Limited Official Use
(Classification)
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INR BRIEFING NOTE
GIST: Istanbul University Students Threaten To Join Boycott
TO: The Director, INR
DATE: June 12, 1968
TIME: 5:00 p.m.
COMMENTS CONTAINED IN INR BRIEFING NOTES ARE INITIAL AND TENTATIVE.
SOURCE(S)
CLASS./CONTROL(S)
Istanbul 1307
12 June, 1968
LOU In press conference June 11 Istanbul University Student Union president listed 12 demands for reforms in class and examination systems, threatened "Turkey will be a second France" if action not taken in two days. Professors and other observers doubt student action now but expect trouble next fall.
INR/RMA Comment
Turkish students have demonstrated regularly against the US and NATO and in support of Cyprus but this is the first hint of mobilization against their most obvious target-- the deplorable teaching and housing conditions in their universities. Any demonstrations now will be short-lived because of the approaching end of the school year, but demonstration-prone Turkish students may try to outdo themselves next fall. Turkish students are proud of their part in bringing down the Menderes government in 1960 and consider it their patriotic responsibility to exert themselves as a political force; if demonstrations continue in Europe during the summer Turkish students can be expected to exert themselves to catch up.
INR OFFICE
RMA
BRIEFER
W. E. Humphrey
EXTENSION
4972
Limited Official Use
(Classification)
FORM 005718 DocId:33061196 Page 7